Our National Trust membership is one of the best investments we make each year. So far, we’ve been paying the £108 a year for joint membership because children under 5 can go in free. We’ll soon have to upgrade though to a family membership – but even this only costs £114.60 per year. And once that’s paid, our National Trust days out are free all over the UK for the year.
What is the National Trust?
Just in case you’re not familiar with the British Institution that is the National Trust, I’ll give you a brief overview. The National Trust is a charity that works tirelessly to preserve the open spaces and the heritage of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their properties range from stately homes to beaches, from pubs to nature reserves.
The National Trust are equally concerned with conservation and public access. This is a difficult balancing act, since by its very nature public access can be destructive. And yet, they ensure that our generation and those to come will be able to visit places of national and environmental significance.
Why join?
Well, before I go into the advantages to you personally, I’ll explain the important bit. The National Trust is self-funding. That means it doesn’t receive funding from the government for the important work it does. They make money through membership fees, entry fees donations, legacies and their commercial operations. So if nobody invested in a membership, a significant amount of their funding would be lost. And thus a proportionate amount of our heritage would disappear.
Many people think this just means there will be less stately homes. But actually, that’s not the case. As mentioned above, the National Trust own a vast array of properties of various different types. Many coastal areas are maintained by the National Trust. Without the work they do, we wouldn’t be able to gain access to them.
The same goes for woodlands, forests, farmland, moorland, islands, fens, archaeological remains, gardens and even villages. I personally feel that the work the National Trust do becomes more important as time goes on. After all, it is natural that as the population expands, more houses will be built. This in turn encroaches on the amount of open space around, and therefore the ease of access to nature.
It is equally natural that ancient buildings and landscapes will erode with the passage of time. So it is critical that we support organisations like the National Trust who will preserve all these things for future generations.
The advantages to you
Okay, so it’s all well and good telling you how your membership fee will benefit future generations, but how will it benefit you? Well, if you make good use of your membership it will save you a fortune.
I like to take the girls on days out that are fairly educational. Take today for example. We headed to our local National Trust property, Croome in Worcestershire. We spent the whole day outside so we didn’t learn about the history of the property today. However, we did stop at one point and read a memorial to Capability Brown.
This led to a conversation about him and his work. And Libby remembered that she’d seen a play about him at Croome last year. This is the sort of thing she wouldn’t learn at school at her age, and yet she has a reasonable understanding of who he was and why he was such a master of his trade.
Had we not been members, entry would have cost us £12 per adult. Entry for children over 5 is £6. So you can see how just a few visits to National Trust properties each year would make your membership fee money well spent.
And for us, National Trust days out are our default. If we’ve got a spare day at home, we usually head to one of our local properties. If we’re elsewhere in the country, we actively seek out National Trust properties to make our holiday cheaper. So it may seem like a large initial outlay, but during the course of the year it easily pays for itself.
What else?
Well, I mentioned above that we’d seen a play about Capability Brown at Croome in the past. This was just one of many activities we’ve got involved in there that were covered by our membership. There are always fun things going on for both children and adults so it’s worth checking the events list at your local National Trust property. The National Trust also run the 50 Things campaign, which encourages children to get outside and connect with nature.
And I managed to make it to the end of the blog post without mentioning cake. Well, almost. I’ve never met a bad National Trust café and they all serve amazing cake. And if that won’t persuade you to join, then I don’t know what will.
Definitely one of the best ways to entertain a family for a whole year – less than the cost of one trip to a theme park
That is very good value. I’m always envious when I see people’s lovely photos from National Trust places! It seems like the whole world goes to them apart from us. Sadly our lifestyle, which is so dominated by kids’ sport, means we don’t have time for days out, but I can totally see why people get so much enjoyment out of visiting National Trust places.
We’ve just invested in becoming members of the NT. We don’t have that many near us, but now the girls are older we can go further afield a lot easier. We pay for it monthly at £9 and I don’t even notice it coming out. It’s lovely to have the option to pop in the car and head to a NT place and not have to spend all day somewhere. And I agree the cake is always amazing x
We love our National Trust Membership, in Scotland there are also several mountains and islands owned by the NTS. It’s definitely a great charity to support!
I keep thinking about this and I think my boys would love it. They get to run about on big large fields and we get to explore lovely old places. I really should invest in one!! Croome reminds me of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, its so beautiful!
We’ve been NT members for years and love it!
You’ve totally caught why we are NT members. Perfect for family days out and as us home ed parents.
This is an interesting post – I’d never considered becoming a member, but it could well be worth it in the future #familytraveltips
Definitely worthwhile if you visit relatively regularly.
Nat.x
If I lived in the UK I would def have a membership! It’s such a great thing. I love your pictures! #familytraveltips
Thank you!
Nat.x
Definitely sounds good reasons to get one. With love Croome – and they have events too which makes it even more value for money.
Oh yes, Croome is wonderful isn’t it?
Nat.x
I always get jealous when I see posts about the National Trust, all their places always look like such great days out. Hopefully we can make it to the UK one day and find out for ourselves! #familytraveltips
I’m sure you’ll make it over here one day 🙂
Nat.x
Your photos are making me homesick! Just beautiful. There are so many wonderful places to explore, the NT pass is a no-brainer for families living there. #familytraveltips
Oh I agree, it really is.
Nat.x
We joined the National Trust a couple of years ago and it has been one of the best purchases. I find it really helps in the Summer holidays to keep costs down. We also plan our UK trips around them. Great lovely #familytraveltrips
Definitely one of our best purchases too.
Nat.x
I think we definitely need to get a NT membership next year. Our kids are now old enough to want to go to lots of different places and it also encourages you to find attractions that you might not have looked at before. #familytraveltips
Yes you’re right, it’s great for that.
Nat.x
I had a NT membership when I lived in the UK a few years ago and absolutely loved it. They’re such great value!
They really are!
Nat.x
We decided to get the membership after repeatedly visiting a National Trust beach, you get free parking as well as entry to all those amazing places! #familytraveltips
Yes, the beaches are brilliant!
Nat.x
I used to have a membership when I lived in the UK. Well worth it for sure.#familytraveltips
Thank you, it really is.
Nat.x
We’ve just joined this year and have used ours so much already even just locally. I’m looking forward to using it more for our holidays too. #familytraveltips
Oh that’s great to hear, it is such good value.
Nat.x
If you live near the attractions I think it would be great to support them. #familytraveltips
Thank you, I agree.
Nat.x
Join for the cake – that’s a great pitch! No, you’ve set out some really good reasons. If we were to spend the summer at home, we’d almost definitely go for it. They have some beautiful properties and are such a great charity for looking after our heritage as you say. It’s not often you can support a charity and get something so great in return. #FamilyTravelTips
Haha yeah it’s pretty much all about the cake 😉
Nat.x
I really must join as there are so many properties in the area – often so much do whatever the weather. We do find it a bit tricky with the dog sometimes as usually they are not allowed inside but the outside areas are spectacular. And yes! the cake is always good! #familytraveltips
Ahh you’re right, it can be tricky when dogs aren’t allowed inside. We tend to leave them at home if we’re going to want to go in.
Nat.x
I very nearly kept up NT membership after we left the UK for the trips we could make when visiting. Wonderful places, and all very very family friendly. Miss it!
Ahh I think I’d feel like that too, they are great places.
Nat.x